MGBSFL DIVISION ONE
FC TEAM B 1 REDBRIDGE JEWISH CARE B 4
Sam Rank admits he has a selection headache ahead of next week’s Invitational Trophy final against Redbridge Jewish Care B ended FC Team B’s hopes of finishing runners-up in MGBSFL Division One.
The days preceding kick-off were filled with tension with RJC playing mind games about who would line-up for them, but Sam Rank’s boys did their talking on the pitch as a deadly double from Dean Ben Yosef inspired them to a 4-1 win.
RJC B “conducted their game-plan brilliantly,” according to Rank. From minute one they were switched on, winning every first and second ball. The first half was very one-sided, with RJC keeper Scott Shear a spectator for large periods. Indeed he spent spells watching the Barnsley and Millwall fans walking up Wembley Way ahead of the League 1 play-off final.
The visitors created two good openings inside the first 10 minutes, with Bradley Gayer and Daniel Bean both hitting the woodwork. However the domination of play was rewarded after 20 minutes when great work by midfielder Adam Noble saw him beat three challenges and play in Ben Yosef, who went past his marker like he wasn’t there and clinically tucked away his opportunity.
RJC doubled their lead a few minutes later after a poor clearance by FC Team B defence was pounced on by the influential Gayer who drilled home from the edge of box.
Redbridge fans didn’t have to wait long for the third as great work from Carl Dobrin, who won the ball in midfield before driving forward and playing a two one-two's with Ben Yosef who finished emphatically to effectively end the game.
The second half was once again a one-sided affair, which turned into who training game for RJC. Visiting fans were celebrating again when good work from Daniel Bean and Rank set up a chance which was expertly tucked home by Joe Jordan.
FC Team B player-manager Mitch Young grabbed a late consolation, but there was no way back.
Rank told JC Sport: “There were a lot of interesting comments made before the game but on the pitch there was only going to be one winner. We dismantled FC Team’s promotion hopes like the Titanic sinking.
"I hope FC Team B will learn from this hard lesson they have received this season. They cannot beat RJC B on the pitch."
Redbridge are now preparing for the MGBSFL/MMFL Invitational Trophy final against North London Raiders Masters next weekend.
Rank added: "Today’s performance was a brilliant way to prepare for next week game. It also gives me a selection headache, with 16 great players to choose from, but a selection headache I will enjoy.
"The boys have been brilliant since I have taken over, and a pleasure to work with. I really hope we can finish the season with silverware as the boys deserve it so much."
FC Team player-manager Mitch Young told JC Sport: "We were severely under-strength today and the performance was very much of an end-of-season, nothing-to-play-for type of performance.
"After a poor first half we regrouped and performed admirably in the second half. Redbridge deserved the win and are a good footballing side, however their manager has shown some real immaturity in his comments and has shown to let himself down. We had no problem replaying the game.
"We would rather have won the league by beating Redbridge. However, after our recent defeat to Woodford it didn't matter as we knew we couldn't get promoted because of our A-team are already in the top division, so we didn't particularly care."
Rank went on to praise the league for their handling of the situation. "RJC B proved a very big point today, that's football games should only be played on a football pitch and not in classroom.
"FC Team B tried their very best to get the replayed game awarded to them without even playing game, which I know caused the League committee additional and unwanted stress. The league kept to their word and ordered for the game to be played.
"I would like to emphasise that David Wolff and MGBSFL management committee do an amazing job. Without David and his team the league would not happen, so from RJC we thank you for the hard work and efforts."
Young responded: "In any other season fielding an ineligible player would have resulted in points being rewarded - this is to discourage clubs with multi-teams from dropping players. Both Woodford and Redbridge fielding ineligible players this year and both went unpunished by the league.
"Some of Redbridge's comments before and after the game are embarrassing and having always maintained a good relationship with the Redbridge lads over the past decade, perhaps Richard Bronzite ought to censor his B-team manager's comments in the future."
